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Have you seen the gardening containers in the front of the Main Library's Children's Room? This summer we have a special series of gardening programs for children on Thursdays. Acta Non Verba; Youth Urban Farm Project is teaching us about soil, seeds, bugs and more.

In addition to the programming, we also have a new shelf full of gardening books for children. Come to the Main Library Children's Room to both garden and learn about gardening.

Programs are mostly on Thursdays at 3:00. This week the program will be today (Tuesday) at 3:00. The topic is Weed or Plant? How are weeds and plants different?

Look at some of the activities! You too could be part of the fun. Come on by!

Artists from the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) will continue their workshops at eight branches this summer! See below for the schedules. These weekly programs for preschool up to middle school students have been very popular for the past two years. Each week brings a different art project: sculpture, weaving, painting, collage. Children always leave with art in hand.

Artists from the Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) will continue their workshops at eight branches this summer! See below for the schedules. These weekly programs for preschool up to middle school students have been very popular for the past two years. Each week brings a different art project: sculpture, weaving, painting, collage. Children always leave with art in hand.

This Saturday kids turned out all over Oakland to help kick-off the Summer Reading Program. Bubble-parties at many branches let families enjoy the sunshine with each other and their books, and a bike meet-up at the Main Library pedaled over to the West Oakland branch to enjoy an incredible Scraper Bike workshop with Tyrone "Baybe Champ" Stevenson.

What's next? Check out the listings for your favorite performers and activites, or look to see what's happening this week at your branch. Branch libraries are closed today, Tuesday June 18th, for the last City of Oakland Mandatory Business Closure Day of the fiscal year; but will reopen on Wednesday, when many of them will start serving Summer Free Lunch for kids and teens. (The Main Library is open Tuesday).

This Saturday kids turned out all over Oakland to help kick-off the Summer Reading Program. Bubble-parties at many branches let families enjoy the sunshine with each other and their books, and a bike meet-up at the Main Library pedaled over to the West Oakland branch to enjoy an incredible Scraper Bike workshop with Tyrone "Baybe Champ" Stevenson.

What's next? Check out the listings for your favorite performers and activites, or look to see what's happening this week at your branch. Branch libraries are closed today, Tuesday June 18th, for the last City of Oakland Mandatory Business Closure Day of the fiscal year; but will reopen on Wednesday, when many of them will start serving Summer Free Lunch for kids and teens. (The Main Library is open Tuesday).

Did you know that most Oakland Public Libraries now serve free lunch for children and teens during the summer?

We couldn't do it without the partnership of the Alameda County Community Food Bank, which recruits, trains, and places volunteers for the lunch service. In addition, they train volunteer Site Coordinators, who commit to at least two weeks of coordinating the other volunteers at a single library site, during lunch time.

Could you be a volunteer Summer Lunch Site Coordinator? While server positions are mostly filled, we still need some committed volunteers to help with this crucial role. Coordinators work closely with library staff to make sure this is a fun experience, connecting youth with library programs and activities, and making sure the lunch service is seamless and enjoyable.

Basic training shifts at the food bank are today, tomorrow, and next week. Sign up here, and email eburton@accfb.org to indicate your interest in the Coordinator position.

Did you know that most Oakland Public Libraries now serve free lunch for children and teens during the summer?

We couldn't do it without the partnership of the Alameda County Community Food Bank, which recruits, trains, and places volunteers for the lunch service. In addition, they train volunteer Site Coordinators, who commit to at least two weeks of coordinating the other volunteers at a single library site, during lunch time.

Could you be a volunteer Summer Lunch Site Coordinator? While server positions are mostly filled, we still need some committed volunteers to help with this crucial role. Coordinators work closely with library staff to make sure this is a fun experience, connecting youth with library programs and activities, and making sure the lunch service is seamless and enjoyable.

Basic training shifts at the food bank are today, tomorrow, and next week. Sign up here, and email eburton@accfb.org to indicate your interest in the Coordinator position.

Día de los niños / Día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) is a celebration of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30th. This year Germar the Magician came to many of our libraries to help us celebrate. He entertained children of all ages with birds that appeared and disappeared, magic coins that did strange and marvelous things, and more. He did so seamlessly alternating between English and Spanish.

Día de los niños / Día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) is a celebration of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30th. This year Germar the Magician came to many of our libraries to help us celebrate. He entertained children of all ages with birds that appeared and disappeared, magic coins that did strange and marvelous things, and more. He did so seamlessly alternating between English and Spanish.

In addition, children at those eleven branches got to choose and take home a free book to keep.

But we're just getting started! Join us in June as we start our annual celebration of children and books during our Summer Reading Program. This year's theme is "Reading is sooooo Delicious!" Children will be entertained, encouraged to read, and win fabulous prizes. Stay tuned for more information. home a free book to keep.

In addition, children at those eleven branches got to choose and take home a free book to keep.

But we're just getting started! Join us in June as we start our annual celebration of children and books during our Summer Reading Program. This year's theme is "Reading is sooooo Delicious!" Children will be entertained, encouraged to read, and win fabulous prizes. Stay tuned for more information.